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| Serbian coalition struggle begins | Serbian coalition struggle begins |
| (1 day later) | |
| Politicians in Serbia are to try to hammer out a governing coalition following Sunday's inconclusive poll. | Politicians in Serbia are to try to hammer out a governing coalition following Sunday's inconclusive poll. |
| The nationalist Serbian Radical Party claimed victory yet failed to gain an absolute majority. It is unclear if others are willing to share power. | The nationalist Serbian Radical Party claimed victory yet failed to gain an absolute majority. It is unclear if others are willing to share power. |
| The Radical Party's candidate for PM said that despite its gains it expects to remain in opposition. | The Radical Party's candidate for PM said that despite its gains it expects to remain in opposition. |
| Groups favouring EU membership won most seats. EU foreign ministers are now meeting to discuss ties with Serbia. | Groups favouring EU membership won most seats. EU foreign ministers are now meeting to discuss ties with Serbia. |
| EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said that despite the strengthened support for the anti-EU Radical Party, he hoped any new government would favour EU membership. | EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said that despite the strengthened support for the anti-EU Radical Party, he hoped any new government would favour EU membership. |
| "The majority voted for forces that are democratic and pro-European," he said from Brussels. | "The majority voted for forces that are democratic and pro-European," he said from Brussels. |
| Serbian Radical Party (SRS) - Tomislav NikolicDemocratic Party (DS) - President Boris TadicDemocratic Party of Serbia (DSS) - PM Vojislav KostunicaG17Socialist Party of SerbiaLiberal Democratic Party Kosovans distanced | Serbian Radical Party (SRS) - Tomislav NikolicDemocratic Party (DS) - President Boris TadicDemocratic Party of Serbia (DSS) - PM Vojislav KostunicaG17Socialist Party of SerbiaLiberal Democratic Party Kosovans distanced |
| The EU has said it is ready to re-start preliminary membership talks with Serbia, blocked eight months ago, but only on condition that it co-operates in tracking down Balkan War criminals. | The EU has said it is ready to re-start preliminary membership talks with Serbia, blocked eight months ago, but only on condition that it co-operates in tracking down Balkan War criminals. |
| Initial results suggest that the Radicals (SRS) took 29% of the vote, the pro-EU Democratic Party (DS) 23% and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's ruling centre-right Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) 17%. | Initial results suggest that the Radicals (SRS) took 29% of the vote, the pro-EU Democratic Party (DS) 23% and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's ruling centre-right Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) 17%. |
| Poll monitors said 60.4% of registered voters had cast ballots. | Poll monitors said 60.4% of registered voters had cast ballots. |
| The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says that Mr Kostunica, whose party came third, may be in a position to be kingmaker or negotiate a deal where he remains prime minister. | The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says that Mr Kostunica, whose party came third, may be in a position to be kingmaker or negotiate a deal where he remains prime minister. |
| But weeks of negotiations may lie ahead, our correspondent says. | But weeks of negotiations may lie ahead, our correspondent says. |
| 'Signal for Europe' | 'Signal for Europe' |
| The SRS candidate for prime minister, Tomislav Nikolic, told Reuters news agency that he did not expect President Boris Tadic to give his party the mandate. | The SRS candidate for prime minister, Tomislav Nikolic, told Reuters news agency that he did not expect President Boris Tadic to give his party the mandate. |
| href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_serbian_voices/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_serbian_voices/html/1.stm', '1169568449', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Serbs speak about their hopes and fears after the election href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_serbian_voices/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/europe_serbian_voices/html/1.stm', '1169568449', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures | |
| But he said it was unlikely that the other two parties - the DS and DSS - could form a functioning coalition and predicted fresh elections by the end of the year. | But he said it was unlikely that the other two parties - the DS and DSS - could form a functioning coalition and predicted fresh elections by the end of the year. |
| President Tadic has said that the pro-European groups should begin coalition talks. | President Tadic has said that the pro-European groups should begin coalition talks. |
| Mr Tadic, who also leads the DS, said he hoped the outcome would produce a government capable of major reforms. | Mr Tadic, who also leads the DS, said he hoped the outcome would produce a government capable of major reforms. |
| "I hope that the political message sent out from Serbia will increase Serbia's political credibility, and that will provide better conditions for our people," he said. | "I hope that the political message sent out from Serbia will increase Serbia's political credibility, and that will provide better conditions for our people," he said. |
| Mr Tadic told his supporters that his party would demand the prime ministerial post. | Mr Tadic told his supporters that his party would demand the prime ministerial post. |
| The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Belgrade says Mr Nikolic will probably end up sitting on the sidelines. | The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Belgrade says Mr Nikolic will probably end up sitting on the sidelines. |
| The party campaigned on the fight against corruption and keeping Kosovo within Serbia. | The party campaigned on the fight against corruption and keeping Kosovo within Serbia. |
| It is obvious that those who repeatedly said they didn't want to deal with us will now have a problem finding who they will deal with Tomislav Nikolic,Serbian Radical Party | |
| The party's official leader, Vojislav Seselj, is on trial for war crimes at the UN tribunal in The Hague. | The party's official leader, Vojislav Seselj, is on trial for war crimes at the UN tribunal in The Hague. |
| The SRS ruled former Yugoslavia for part of the 1990s in coalition with the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) of the late leader Slobodan Milosevic. | The SRS ruled former Yugoslavia for part of the 1990s in coalition with the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) of the late leader Slobodan Milosevic. |
| Kosovo remains a key issue for the incoming government. | Kosovo remains a key issue for the incoming government. |
| The mostly ethnic Albanian region is legally a province of Serbia but is under UN administration. | The mostly ethnic Albanian region is legally a province of Serbia but is under UN administration. |
| The UN's chief envoy for the province is expected next month to recommend some form of independence - something the SRS vehemently opposes. | The UN's chief envoy for the province is expected next month to recommend some form of independence - something the SRS vehemently opposes. |
| The other main parties have proposed wide autonomy for Kosovo within Serbia. | The other main parties have proposed wide autonomy for Kosovo within Serbia. |
| This has been the country's first general election since its union with Montenegro was dissolved last year. | This has been the country's first general election since its union with Montenegro was dissolved last year. |
| Are you in Serbia? Did you vote in the elections? How do you think a government should be formed in the wake of the inconclusive poll? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Serbia? Did you vote in the elections? How do you think a government should be formed in the wake of the inconclusive poll? Send us your comments using the form below. |